4Runner 3rd Gen or 4rd Gen ????
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Thai
Elite Member
Are you purely into off-roading where width is an asset? Is your garage tight where width is again an asset? Are you financially tight that a 3rd gen is more affordable without you having to eat Ramen noodles 24/7? Is the 3rd gen looks your ONLY criteria? Are drum brakes a MUST have?
If you answer "NO" to these questions, then get the 4th gen. Done. :nerd:
[MENTION=2]Thai[/MENTION] you forgot about manual transmissions. 
$6000 is about what 3rd gens go for around here - there's actually a 2nd gen listed on craigslist right now for $7k. I am typically hesitant to buy with friends when involving this much money, but at least you would know how well maintained it is.
Edit for something constructive:
I came from a 3rd gen to a 4th gen, and, in spite of not having that far left pedal, I'd be hard pressed to go back. There are just so many new features that come with a newer vehicle that truly make it an upgrade.
$6000 is about what 3rd gens go for around here - there's actually a 2nd gen listed on craigslist right now for $7k. I am typically hesitant to buy with friends when involving this much money, but at least you would know how well maintained it is.
Edit for something constructive:
I came from a 3rd gen to a 4th gen, and, in spite of not having that far left pedal, I'd be hard pressed to go back. There are just so many new features that come with a newer vehicle that truly make it an upgrade.
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Whitson Metalworks
New member
In a perfect world, you should have both. I love 3rd gens myself.
realcarfun
New member
3rd generation is at least 13 years old , 1995-2002
even it runs good but some parts will have problems soon. I recommend later generation.
even it runs good but some parts will have problems soon. I recommend later generation.
T4R2014
Elite Member
Someone else will say that a 2006 is almost ten years old and you may run into problems. These are used vehicles we are talking about here. There are 2006 4th Gens blowing head gaskets.
One of the main reasons I didn't buy a 4th gen when they came out, is because it lacked headroom compared to my 3rd gen.
kpinthebay
Member
Hands down, 3rd gen. I have rode in a 2nd gen, own a 3rd, bought and sold a 4th, and leasing a 5th. My fave by far is my 3rd.
MandAtaco
Member
A lot of it depends on what you want to do with it. I love my 3rd gen for off-road, it just seems to be a better platform to play with.
I love my 4th gen for the v8 power, towing ability, and room on the road for the family. It's a mild wheeler for getting the family camping and pulling my popup.
Each have their positives and negatives. And as far as getting parts for the 3rd gens, those things are everywhere! You'll be able to get parts for a long time coming.
I love my 4th gen for the v8 power, towing ability, and room on the road for the family. It's a mild wheeler for getting the family camping and pulling my popup.
Each have their positives and negatives. And as far as getting parts for the 3rd gens, those things are everywhere! You'll be able to get parts for a long time coming.
4thgenblake
New member
4th gen all the way. How could you go wrong? Lol
My 3rd gen has a factory Moonroof, and so have all of the 4th gen's I've looked at over the years.
With their respective driver's seat all the way down and back, my head hits the roof of the 4th gen, unless I want to put the seat back into a 'Gangsta lean' position.
With my 3rd gen I have clearance even with the seat back upright in a comfortable position.
At any rate, that's my experience.
I went with a 3rd gen. I found one with low-ish miles. I like the body style and from researching here learned that wrenching on one is straight forward.
After a year I would say the only down side so far is it is too cramped in the front. I know the narrow width can be a positive in some instances. I drive a 2000 Tundra AC for work and it is more roomy. Get into the other shop truck, a 2007 F150, and it is like being in a ware house, lol.
We will need a new family vehicle in the next couple of years and a 4th gen will be high on the list. When he earns it the 3rd gen will likely go to my son as his first vehicle.
After a year I would say the only down side so far is it is too cramped in the front. I know the narrow width can be a positive in some instances. I drive a 2000 Tundra AC for work and it is more roomy. Get into the other shop truck, a 2007 F150, and it is like being in a ware house, lol.
We will need a new family vehicle in the next couple of years and a 4th gen will be high on the list. When he earns it the 3rd gen will likely go to my son as his first vehicle.
You must either be short or you have bad posture. :biggrin1:
I had a 3rd gen with a moonroof myself, and the same story here. I actually could raise the seat a little in the 3rd gen. In the 4th it's as low as it gets and my hair still brushes the ceiling. What gets me is the damn rear view mirror in the 4th gen. Why they hell did they go away from the mirror coming out from the moonroof controls/glasses compartment? :gun4:
MN4RNR
New member
What he said. To be transparent. I have never been in a 3rd gen, though I love their no nonsense look, and own a 2006 myself. I may be biased.
CookieRoe
Senior Member
I guess the seat in my 4th gen is set lower :shrug:
Short or bad posture? both??? hahahah. Anyway, I'm 5'5" so that may explain it.
As far as Toyota going away with the console mounted rear view mirror, my guess is that its cheaper to make (source) a stand alone mirror. Don't forget on some trims, those mirrors are auto dimming and/or have a compass embedded in them. Have a console mounted mirror would throw a wrench in the works (having 2 completely different types of mirrors............. I'm sure the bean counters would've hated that). Again, let's not forget that these mirrors are sometimes the same in others cars.
CookieRoe
Senior Member
Would have electric seats have anything to do with it? I don't know if SR5s and Sports are height adjustable (pretty sure they are). Height aside, I feel cramped in the 3rd gen.
Getting back to the point of the thread: I'm partial to the 3rd gen, but someone pointed out that as the truck ages, parts (factory) become less available.
